Councils launch new website to look at the future of SW Hertfordshire

Six South West Hertfordshire councils have launched a website to support their long term aspirations for the area and want to hear views on what issues are important to those who live and work in the area.

Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council, working with the four other councils which comprise South West Hertfordshire - Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City & District Council, Hertsmere Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council - are planning for the future of the area. The emerging South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan will look at the future of SW Herts to 2050. By working together through the SW Herts JSP, the councils will be in a stronger position to deliver, and better fund, the homes, essential local transport links, health services, educational facilities and employment that local people want to see, as well as ensuring that this part of Hertfordshire is sustainable, cleaner, greener and healthier.

The website www.swhertsplan.com  has been set up to help people find out about the SW Herts JSP, and get involved in the process. It provides background information to the JSP, including details about what will be involved in its preparation and an opportunity for people to get involved with developing a long term vision for SW Herts.

The vision will comprise key issues which need to be addressed. It will build on more than 14,900 comments submitted as part of the ‘SW Herts – Your Future’ engagement that took place in early 2020.

The JSP will also take account of Watford and Three Rivers Local Plans and the others being developed by the individual councils for their areas

Cllr Stephen Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Property and Housing in Watford Borough Council said: "We face significant enormous challenges in how we meet the growth predicted for our area of Hertfordshire into the future. We will achieve so much more for our area by working with our neighbouring authorities to provide the homes, jobs and infrastructure we need in the future. Please have a look at our website and find out what people said was important to them – you will have another chance to have your say next year when our plan is formally issued for comment."

Cllr Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Infrastructure and Planning Policy at Three Rivers District Council, said: "The Joint Strategic Plan is about planning for the future – taking into account possible future shocks and trends. By working together with our friends at our partner councils we aim to ensure we can deliver the infrastructure, housing, transport links, health services and educational facilities that people expect. This new website is a key step along the way, helping us to gather residents' views and keep everyone informed."

Cllr Chris White, Leader of St Albans City and District Council, who chairs the SW Herts councillor group comprised of representatives from all of the councils in the area said:

"The councils in South West Hertfordshire are working together to set out our vision for the future in what will be a new Joint Strategic Plan for the whole of this part of Hertfordshire.  This new website provides lots of information about the work we are doing and how local people can get involved."

A series of videos from leaders across the academic, industry and voluntary sectors and a questionnaire asking what type of future might be possible in SW Herts is available to view here www.swhertsplan.com/sw-herts-vision .  This initial opportunity to help shape the vision runs until Tuesday 14 December.

There will be a further opportunity to influence the vision for the SW Herts Joint Strategic Plan when it is formally issued for comment in 2022.